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You are likely familiar with the various ways the USGA serves golf. “For the Good of the Game” are words that we live by.
That said, you may not fully know the level of our strong partnership with the network of 58 Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) nationwide. AGAs play a vital role in bringing USGA services to local golfers and courses in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Each AGA has a mission closely aligned with the USGA’s and serves as the conduit for many of our programs at the grassroots level. They also offer their own tournaments and events, educational resources, and other benefits to golfers on a state and regional scale. Here’s a quick overview of what AGAs do for the game:
- 3 million golfers in the U.S. hold a Handicap Index, and they are all AGA members
- AGAs host roughly 7,000 competition days each year
- Most golfers aspiring to play in a USGA championship must qualify, and AGAs run more than 650 qualifying rounds for these championships
- AGAs collectively employ 620 full-time professional staff members
- They rely on more than 6,400 volunteers (500 of whom are also USGA Committee Members)
- With funding provided by the USGA, AGAs annually hire more than 150 P.J. Boatwright interns, who work side by side with AGA staff
- They host 375 Rules and Handicap education workshops each year nationwide
- AGAs and their volunteers rate all golf courses – more than 14,000 across the country – for Handicap purposes
- AGAs annually raise $15 million to support their youth programs, caddie initiatives and scholarships
Like the USGA, AGAs depend heavily on volunteers who contribute in various capacities, including as Rules officials, tournament support, or course raters. The USGA’s ability to fulfill its mission is greatly enhanced by the active involvement of AGA staff and our USGA Committee Members.
Having spent 25 years in the corporate world, I am continuously impressed by the unflagging commitment of those who volunteer in golf. When I ask why they do it, the most common response is, “The game has given me so much, and I want to give back.” This dedication contributes to the sustainability of the game by imparting the values of hard work, honesty, respect and camaraderie to future generations of golfers. I hope to become a Course Rating volunteer myself when I retire.
To learn more about your local AGA’s contributions to golf or better yet, to explore volunteer opportunities with them, you can use the QR code on this page or visit usga.org under “Playing” to find your local AGA.